Bourbon: Route 66 and Local History

In Bourbon, Route 66 heritage, a distinctive photo spot, and a paved loop trail come together. This gives you several concrete points to consider when choosing your destination: you can focus on the roadside character and its history, or combine your stay with a lap on the Bourbon City Park Walking Trail. A Barrel Tour and the local food history add further historical and culinary dimensions to these themes.

Route 66 and a distinctive photo spot

Along Route 66, Bourbon preserves an old-fashioned roadside feel. The Bourbon Route 66 Water Tower was built in 1925 and serves as a photo spot on Route 66. This gives the highway’s heritage a tangible landmark: the water tower is both a historic structure and a subject for souvenir photos. Route 66 photo tours on foot and by bicycle are also promoted in Bourbon. The tower and these tours offer two different perspectives on the same theme: a single fixed subject and Route 66 as a backdrop for photos along the way.

A paved loop by the city park

The Bourbon City Park Walking Trail is currently the only developed trail in Bourbon. The paved loop is about 3,375 feet long, or around one kilometer, and runs along the boundary of the city park. Its loop shape makes it a circular route; its approximate length can be taken into account when planning your day. This sets the trail apart from the Route 66 photo tours: here, the focus is on a defined trail layout and its location along the park boundary. If you’d like to get to know Bourbon on foot, you can consider this trail as a standalone activity without assuming a longer hiking route.

Local history on a Barrel Tour

A Barrel Tour adds another historical dimension. It invites you to learn about the area’s history and Bourbon’s development up to the present day. This complements the view of the water tower: while its construction year marks a specific point in history, the tour spans the town’s history and development. If you’re especially interested in how Bourbon has changed, this thematic focus offers an alternative to a walk or a photo tour along Route 66.

Route 66 heritage and food culture

Bourbon’s Route 66 heritage includes historic restaurants and malt shops. Bourbon Café and Coffee Saloon serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch on Route 66. These three meals cover different times of day and give the town’s current dining scene a concrete place in its description. When planning your trip, you can therefore think not only about historic sights but also about the culinary themes that shape Bourbon.

Sweeney’s Steak House is part of the older food history. The restaurant was located in Bourbon, Missouri, and was in operation at least through 1970. It specialized in fried chicken and steaks cooked to order. This former restaurant’s history should be distinguished from the meals currently served at Bourbon Café and Coffee Saloon: it offers a historical perspective on Route 66 dining, while the café serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch.

Choose Bourbon as your destination

The different highlights can be sorted according to what interests you during your stay. For a paved loop, the Bourbon City Park Walking Trail is the specific option described here. Route 66 photography in Bourbon centers on the water tower and the advertised tours on foot or by bicycle; the Barrel Tour focuses on the town’s history and development. Historic restaurants and malt shops add a culinary dimension to Route 66 heritage, while Bourbon Café and Coffee Saloon offers a present-day dining connection with its three listed meals. If you’re looking for a hotel in Bourbon, these different themes can help you decide what kind of trip you’d like to take.

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